Kashmir’s apples get a lifeline on rails as cargo trains roll to Delhi

Daily Budgam–Delhi service promises relief for orchardists hit by highway shutdowns

On Monday morning, as whistles echoed at Nowgam railway station, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first cargo parcel train carrying apples from the Valley to Delhi. For Kashmir’s orchardists, many of whom watched trucks of fruit rot by the roadside during recent highway closures, this was more than a symbolic moment. It was a new lifeline.

“I am thankful to the prime minister as cargo service has been started. Every day 23 to 24 tonnes of apples and other perishable goods will be transported from here which will reach Delhi the next day,” Sinha told reporters as quoted by PTI.

Why apples needed the rails

Kashmir produces over 70 percent of India’s apples, with last year’s harvest touching 20.4 lakh metric tonnes. But the industry is at the mercy of the Srinagar–Jammu highway. Heavy rains and landslips last month choked the road for nearly two weeks, leaving trucks carrying produce worth Rs 200 crore stranded.

Many orchardists were forced to dump spoiled apples back in their orchards. The reputational damage, dealers say, is harder to measure. “The reputation of the Kashmir apple is at stake when the first lots are of bad quality,” Izhan Javed, spokesperson of the J&K Fruits and Vegetables Processing and Integrated Cold Chain Association, told The Hindu.

Railways steps in

In response, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a daily time-tabled parcel service from Budgam to Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar, starting September 13. Two vans carrying 23 tonnes each were loaded on the inaugural run.

“Empowering Kashmir’s apple growers. With the Jammu–Srinagar line operational, the Kashmir Valley has better connectivity,” Vaishnaw posted on X.

Officials told The Hindu that more trains could be added if demand grows.

Orchardists welcome, but demand more

While the service was hailed as a relief, many growers argue it barely scratches the surface.

“Two parcels cannot accommodate more than 40 tonnes of fruit. We need two to three full cargo trains every day for at least 10–15 days to relieve the pressure,” Javed said, warning that the season’s losses could run into thousands of crores if bottlenecks persist.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also voiced gratitude but pressed for urgency: “The frequent closure of the highway has left Kashmir’s apple industry reeling at the peak of the harvest season. Growers have been unable to transport their produce, resulting in mounting losses,” he told The Hindu.

Beyond logistics: integration and economy

For LG Manoj Sinha, the trains represent more than just transport. “This train will contribute a lot to the economic upliftment. We know due to topographic conditions and heavy rainfall, the highway gets closed sometimes and it used to cause losses to the fruit growers. The railways has started a very good service and I want to thank them for it,” he said.

He added that reliable, cheaper rail access would not only safeguard the Valley’s fruit economy but also deepen its integration with national markets.